Yeh, WAS thinking of Arco's oil! thought others still useins graphite in
theirs also. but still would recommend xfmr oil rather than motor oil- jim
Subject: Mobil 1 syn oil & others...
> Hi,
>
> Couldn't let this one pass on TT. True synthetic oils, like Mobil 1,
Amsoil,
> BG Products, etc., do NOT have any graphite content! However, all
automotive
> rated oils today have other components, i.e., additives that may not be
what
> we would want in a dielectric bath bucket...Mobil 1 might work in a pinch,
> for a short while like a few months, but I wouldn't want it hanging around
> for years...
>
> You must have been thinking of ARCO's Graphite Oil, marketed back in the
> 80's...This stuff was withdrawn from the market due to a basic problem
they
> couldn't solve - how to keep the solids (graphite chips) in suspension.
Any
> hydrocarbon (oil) and most synthetic base stocks are all LIGHTER than
Water,
> as in a specific gravity of "less than" 1.0 - that is why they float on
the
> top of water. Graphite has a specific gravity of "greater than" 1.0 and
with
> our normal gravity here on Earth it will find it's way to the bottom of
the
> container and stay there! This made for some really neat, tough, sludges
in
> engines that caused over heating and restricted flows..bad news. You have
to
> have what is called "gel strength" in a fluid to "suspend" any higher
> specific gravity solids within it, when the movement or flow is stopped.
>
> IF I were going to try and use anything but a true dielectric fluid, it
would
> be a non-detergent aviation oil of grade 100 or higher (SAE viscosity of
+/-
> 50 wt.). You can get this at most GA airports by the qt. This stuff
closely
> resembles "mineral oil" like Steve suggested in his post, just thicker and
> more resistant to moisture uptake.
>
> Being an old Oil Patch hand, I just had to jump in here... Have a safe
summer
> season and 73's. Post this if you wish.
>
> Mel Frost
> KD7DCR Coeur d'Alene, ID
>
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